Virginia Beach Summer Family Vacation Ideas Include Live Beach Music, Trolley Rides, and Dolphin Watching. Imagine a beach with soft clean sand, a traditional boardwalk, ice cream, Italian ice, pizza by the slice, air conditioned shops and no tight schedules. Head to Virginia Beach and make this your family vacation reality.

Not only is it the home of the world’s longestpleasure beach, but it also features a bountiful list of activities and attractions well-suited for families with school age children and the desire to travel together.

Do a little or do a lot – the beach is waiting. From festivals that honor the "King of Rock and Roll" to natural adventure opportunities for families, Virginia Beach offers the “Classic American Beach Vacation” deemed the world’s longest pleasure beach by the Guinness Book of World Records.

A “Big Beach” project extended the shore’s width to more than 300 feet with the addition of 3.2 million cubic yards of sand. The result is more beach blanket space with more room for games on the sand.

Bike the boardwalk. Granted it’s no longer made of boards, Virginia Beach’s 2.6-mile boardwalk can’t be beat for walking, biking, and roller skating. Rent a surrey bike for some family pedaling, or create a caravan and get everyone their own pair of skates with Cherie's Bike and Blade Rentals, which has seven rental locations up and down the boardwalk, covering the entire oceanfront. Bonus Points: No need to bring your own wheels, rent surreys, bikes and roller blades at stands along the Boardwalk.

Take a crabbing class. Kids and adults can scamper along the shoreline during a First Landing State Park crabbing class. Grab clothes that can get wet, some old shoes and scurry along the shoreline in classes led by park rangers. Bonus Points:The Park also offers night hikes, stargazing and nature hikes. The park itself is the most-visited state park in Virginia and was the landing site of the first permanent English settlers in 1607 before they colonized Jamestown.

Watch for dolphins.Virginia Beach is also the home of the mid-Atlantic’s largest population of bottlenose dolphins. Each year, dolphins make Virginia Beach their summer residence and visitors can get up-close to them on dolphin watching boat excursions sponsored by the Virginia Marine Science Museum, aboard the Rudee Flipper. Visitors observe the dolphins as they feed, dive, and leap from the water in acrobatic displays. Bonus Points: Check out kayaking tours along the Atlantic shoreline or Chesapeake Bay waters.

Pet a ray.Families will get a front row seat at the one of the best aquariums the in the country. Its blockbuster attractions include more than 800,000 gallons of aquariums, an outdoor aviary, and river otter and seal habitats. It is also home to the six story-high IMAX® theater, one of the nation’s first and the only one in the state. Bonus Points: The touch tanks make any visit awesome. Docents provide both encouragement and explanations about touch tank creatures making the activity truly memorable. Visitors may touch a sea star's bumpy limbs; feel a stingray's wet and slick body; hold a hermit crab's claw or brush a horseshoe crab's legs.

Being on vacation is a breeze. Virginia Beach's second wind comes from Ocean Breeze Water Park and Motor World. It’s the place with water slides, go-carts, and helicopter rides. What more is there? Four fun vacation options meet the needs of all family members. From the Wild Water Rapids, a water theme park with water flumes & speed slides to Shipwreck Golf, 36 holes of miniature golf it’s all for fun. Bonus Points: Add practice at the Strike Zone, a spot with batting cages for all levels.

Take a wild ride. When beach boredom takes overVirginia Beach Amusement Park has the solution. The friendly facility located on the oceanfront at 15th & Atlantic Avenue offers families a thrill-a-minute. From the Skyscraper, a thrill ride soaring 165 feet at 65 mph to the wild-and-wet log flume, it’s a blast. They offer a variety of rides and games and a cure for boredom. Bonus Points: Discounted day passes are available and regular day passes may be purchased at the park.

Location on the planet. Anchored in the southeastern corner of the state where Virginia meets the sea, Virginia Beach is four hours southeast of Washington, D.C. by car, and within a day’s drive or less from one-third of the U.S. population.

Virginia Beach Free or Almost Free Family Vacation Fun.
It’s all about spending less money and having more fun with your kids. A Virginia Beach family vacation includes an abundance of free family-friendly activities and experiences on the beach and off the beach. Just show up and work the list.

Make this a winter of discovery - whales, the open sea with your grand kids. [Read More]

Virginia Beach A Whale of a Winter Family Adventure. Your family can
spend a couple of hours on the ocean, with the chance of encountering
rare fin and humpback whales on their migration route. Some range up
to 85 feet long and weigh 70 tons; others breach playfully, or proudly
show their flukes (tailfins). It's like nothing else you'll do this
winter. With admission to Virginia Aquarium and its 3D IMAX(R) Theatre
included, your time together will be shared with the sharks, harbor
seals and sea turtles as well. Whale Watching Packages are offered
through a number of hotels, so meeting your family's needs for a warm,
cozy evening together is an easy task. Packages available from
December to mid-March. Virginia Beach Visitors Bureau For more information, call the Virginia Beach Whale Hotline toll-free at 1-866-59-WHALE (866-599-4253), or visit our website for online trip planning. [Read Less]

Get more out of your beach vacation with off the beach family adventures.
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Hampton Roads offers a wide variety of destinations perfect for an outing of any length of time. Immerse yourself in the history of Colonial Williamsburg, scream in excitement for Busch Gardens, travel under the depths at Nauticus, or simply explore the many unique cities that call southeastern Virginia home. The roads all lead to fun.
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We raise the bar on comfort, cleanliness and convenience. Each one of our 85 spacious guest rooms evokes a contemporary style feeling and warmth. We’re close to myriad attractions and activities - everything from the acclaimed Taubman Art Museum to the historic Blue Ridge Parkway to the home of the Salem Red Sox minor league baseball team. There's always something to do and see in Roanoke. Best Western Plus Inn at Valley View
5050 Valley View Boulevard Northwest, Roanoke, VA 24012
Phone: 540-362-2400 [Read Less]

Stay with us to enjoy Old Town Alexandria’s charming small town feel. [Read More]

Washington, DC, is less than 10 miles from the hotel, and abounding with things to see and do, from a visit to the National Zoo and The Mall. Springhill Suites,
6065 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, Virginia 22303
Contact: 1-571-481-4441 or online www.shsalexandria.com
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Pack up the family and have an experience of a lifetime here in Wytheville Virginia. Here at the Best Western Wytheville we are ideally located near exciting tourist attractions. Start your day off with a complimentary breakfast and take a soothing swim in our luxurious outside pool.
Best Western Wytheville
355 NYE Road Wytheville VA 24382
Contact: 276-228-7300
Email: Bestwestern@wythevilleinn.com or online.
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We offer great packages all year long perfect for a family vacation. [Read More]

Our hotel has been newly redesigned with family vacationers in mind. We've thought of everything from spacious studio suites with new furnishings and offer friendly service and contemporary living amenities to keep you comfortable and relaxed. Ideally located near shopping and Williamsburg area attractions. SpringHill Suites Williamsburg
1644 Richmond Road, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185
Contact: 757-941-3000
Email: kandi.shaw@hhmlp.com
http://www.williamsburgsuiteshotel.com/ [Read Less]

Our convenient location offers views of the airport, river or city. [Read More]

Our convenient location offers views of the airport, river or city area. Our elegant room feature one king or two plush double beds. Enjoy luxury and comfort with thoughtful amenities such as high-speed wireless Internet access and dataport. We’re centrally located for all the key historical and government buildings in the U.S Government. We’re also the closest hotel to Washington’s Reagan National Airport. We offer a complimentary Reagan National Airport Shuttle as well as a complimentary Crystal City Metro Shuttle. From our front doors, you may easily explore the shops and restaurants of trendy Georgetown or take an excursion to your favorite Smithsonian on The Mall. T-Mobile Hotspot Wireless Broadband is active on guest floors and in public areas. If you're age 62 or older, you're eligible to save up to 50% off prevailing room rates. Hyatt Regency Crystal City 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia, USA 22202. [Read Less]

Zoo Snooze includes a night at zoo, behind-the-scenes encounters with nocturnal animals, hike around the zoo, nighttime activities, and breakfast. Activities are geared for children six or older with a parent or guardian. For details (757) 441-2374, ext. 229 or online.
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Almost any weekend throughout 2015, families may sleep overnight aboard the battleship USS Wisconsin for a once in a lifetime experience. Guests sleep in the original berthing of the sailors and see how our military lived. Vacation adventure package includes a 2-Day admission to Nauticus, ship tour and activities plus a hot breakfast in the morning. Details from Tammie Weitzman, Overnight Coordinator at (757) 664-1057 or online. [Read Less]

First Landing State Park offers tent, RV and cabin camping accommodations. The park has campsites both with and without water and electrical hookups and come equipped with a picnic table and fire-grill. All tent and RV sites are located just steps from the Chesapeake Bay, offering campers close water access. To speak to a Virginia Beach vacation expert call toll-free 1-800-VA-BEACH (822-3224), or checkout www.visitvirginiabeach.com.
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False Cape State Park features 12 primitive camping sites and an extensive environmental education program. There are no cabins, but camp sites are open year-round and are located in four main areas – Barbour Hill Bay, Barbour Hill Ocean, False Cape Landing Bay and False Cape Landing Ocean. To speak to a Virginia Beach vacation expert call toll-free 1-800-VA-BEACH (822-3224), or checkout www.visitvirginiabeach.com.
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